Akila Vaidyanathan

Akila believes that every life has a special purpose and once one is aligned with that purpose, nothing is impossible. She discovered her life’s purpose when her son was diagnosed with Autism and Apraxia. She quit her successful international career in the software industry and trained herself as an educator and psychologist to help her son and those like him.

She is a thought leader in the area of Disability and Inclusion. She has seeded and anchored unique concepts and programs in this area. She has been a catalyst in creating a strong vibrant community of PWD [persons with disabilities] and their families and has been instrumental in creating a matrix of support in for them in the larger community.
  
Akila along with a few parents founded the Autism Society of India [ASI] in 2006, an NGO with a pan India focus, based out of Bangalore, which works on advocacy and awareness for the rights and services for those affected by Autism. She is currently Vice President, South and member of the Executive Council for ASI.

Akila is the Founder – Director of The Amaze Charitable Trust, an NGO based out of Coimbatore founded in 2012. She also initiated Antara - ‘The Space Within’   in 2016. Antara offers group programs that enable parent and caregiver wellbeing.

Akila completed her internship with Aastha Foundation in 2011. Currently she is a member of the Governing Council. Akila loves reading, writing, poetry, cooking, being with nature, travel and adventure.